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Plans to open the UK’s first battery recycling plant in Scotland have been announced.

Ecosurety and Belmont Trading said the facility in Glasgow would have the capacity to process up to 20,000 tonnes of batteries every year.

More than £300,000 worth of equipment will be installed at Belmont’s Kilwinning site by September this year to enable the sorting and shredding of batteries to start from November.

The plant is expected to cover the UK’s entire battery waste requirements and make the nation “self-sufficient” in battery recycling as it prepares to leave the EU.

The companies believe costs will reduce for producers as export rates will no longer be included in complying with their battery obligations.

Damian Lambkin, Head of Innovation at Ecosurety said: “This partnership means the UK could potentially stop sending batteries abroad for recycling, reducing the additional environmental impacts of shipping tens of thousands of potentially hazardous waste across the sea to Northern Europe every year.

“It is also a big win for producers who will not have to cover the additional cost burdens of sending spent batteries overseas. This is proof that the UK waste and recycling industry can find its own innovative solutions to our waste resourcing issues through partnership working.”